Jorginho dreams of winning the Ballon d’Or. The Chelsea midfielder and the Italian national team won major trophies such as the Champions League and European Championship this year, while also being part of the official dream team of both tournaments. In conversation with SportsTV Jorginho acknowledges that he does not come close to players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo based on talent, but that his trophy case from last year is unique.
In December, by France Football the winner of the trophy announced. “We all dream,” said 29-year-old Jorginho. “But I’ll be honest: it depends on the criteria on which the prize is awarded. When it comes to talent, I know I’m not the best in the world. But when it comes to prizes won, well. “No one has won more than me last season. How do I see myself compared to Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar? Those are completely different players, but again, it’s about the criteria.”
The winner of the Ballon d’Or is determined by a vote. First of all, organizer stelt France Football a shortlist of thirty players together, after which a selection of journalists – one from each football country – together with the national coaches and captains of national teams determine the winner. The journalists, players and national coaches are asked to choose a top five from the thirty names of the shortlist, based on a person’s individual and collective performance in the past year, quality of the player and taking into account the player’s career. The number one panelist receives six points, the number two five points, and so on. Finally, an overall ranking will follow.
Although he won the tournament, Jorginho did not have a flawless final. He failed to decide the penalty series earlier: Jordan Pickford parried his potentially decisive penalty. Because Gianluigi Donnarumma then also saved a penalty from Bukayo Saka, Italy still won. “It was all planned. I knew Donnarumma was going to keep him,” Jorginho says with a wink about his miss. “I always give everything for the team, but unfortunately that sometimes isn’t enough. When I missed the penalty, my world collapsed. I wanted to give Italy the victory. Fortunately, we have a phenomenon in the goal. He saved me. “
Jorginho was already put forward by Maurizio Sarri last Tuesday as a potential winner of the prestigious prize. “If he wins the European Championship, he is a candidate for the Ballon d’Or,” Sarri said at the time. He mentioned Jorginho in the interview with Sports Italia a ‘sophisticated player’. “That’s why he’s often misunderstood. He makes everything seem so simple. That’s his greatness,” said the new Lazio coach. Jorginho was brought to Chelsea by Sarri in 2018 after spending three seasons together at Napoli. “When I went to Chelsea, we stole him in front of Manchester City. Initially, supporters and journalists found him difficult to understand. But now he is appreciated. He has also worn the Chelsea captain’s armband.”
Only one Dutchman makes the reserve bench at the best team of the European Championship, with Jorginho
View the Football Zone European Championship team here.
Italy purveyor to UEFA-selected European Championship team, with Jorginho
View the UEFA European Championship team here.
In his first season with Chelsea, Jorginho won the Europa League and played 37 league games. After Sarri’s resignation in August 2020, successor Frank Lampard was not completely convinced of Jorginho, who was therefore not assured of a starting place in the first half of the season. Under Thomas Tuchel he became an important part of the basic team again. Lorenzo Insigne, his team-mate at Italy and former Napoli team-mate, said a week and a half ago that Jorginho would deserve the Ballon d’Or. “It’s right that people are talking about him,” Insigne said.
“He has had great years at Chelsea and we are proud to have someone like him in the squad. We call him the professor and he is a great player.” The versatile midfielder, able to act as a ball taker or playmaker, is not just called ‘professor’. He is praised by the outside world for his insight into the game, technique, pass purity and calmness on the ball. “I don’t think about the Ballon d’Or myself,” Jorginho said recently. “My priority is the team. It’s much more fun to celebrate with each other than on your own.”